EC Meeting July 2022

2.11 Piston Pen and Press.

We are partners to this brilliant project celebrating and collecting the writings of industrial working class authors from the nineteenth century. They are keen to hold a project conference at Quorn. See: https://www.pistonpenandpress.org/

3

International

3.1 At last a progressive President elected in Colombia, let us hope that this stops the slaughter of trade unionists and the general population. 3.2 It was interesting to me that a progressive alliance brought Petro to power and similarly the excellent results for Melachon in France were as a result of a broad coalition. Melachon’s platform is worth having a look at. We have participated in two recent delegations and I have spoken at two online meetings. A harrowing report on the use of chemical weapons against the Kurds has been produced by Steve Sweeney. See attached. The Kurds also claim now that small tactical nuclear weapons have been used against them. 16 more journalists have been imprisoned. It appears that Turkey is becoming increasingly violent and out of control. It releases ISIS prisoners and sets them loose on the Kurdish people. We have undertaken to support a plan of action to write to all MPs, AMs, MSPs, Council leaders and opposition leaders asking them to take note of the issues. 3.3 Kurds. Turkey.

I lent our support also to the letter to the Turkish Ambassador in London from various trade unions.

3.4

Grenada.

I lent the GFTU logo in support of a British trade union letter encouraging the National Democratic Congress in Grenada in the recent elections, which I am pleased to say it won and we have received letters of thanks from Grenadian colleagues in Britain. Decades of rule by the conservative party there are now at an end.

4

Support for affiliates

Over this period I have been able to attend the national conferences of three affiliates and address two of them. It is always motivational to witness the excellent work of affiliates.

5

General Secretaries ’ Meeting.

The support meeting for General Secretaries was well attended with 12 in attendance as usual a good discussion with mutual support given. It was nice to see Marcia from our new affiliation present.

6

Hotel

6.1 A number of long standing staff have left to go to pastures new or begin their families and we have wished them a fond farewell. New staff teams are being created in all departments despite the most extraordinary recruitment difficulties within the current hospitality market.

Page 4